However, the extent to which increased or blunted activation of reward circuitry is observed in pathological gambling (PG gambling disorder in DSM-5) and SUDs has been debated, with data suggesting that context (e.g., gambling for PG or substances for SUDs) may determine whether increased or blunted activation is observed ( Leyton and Vezina, 2013 Limbrick-Oldfield et al., 2013 van Holst et al., 2012b).
Specifically, aberrant ventral striatal and ventrocortical function appear common across disorders and is consistent with models of addiction that encompass substance-related and non-substance-related behaviors ( Potenza, 2013).
Individuals with gambling and substance-use disorders (SUDs) exhibit neurobiological similarities, particularly in reinforcement/reward/motivation circuitry ( Leeman and Potenza, 2012 Potenza, 2008).
